Proverbs 12:25
New International Version
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

New Living Translation
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

English Standard Version
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Berean Standard Bible
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

King James Bible
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

New King James Version
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

New American Standard Bible
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

NASB 1995
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

NASB 1977
Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Legacy Standard Bible
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Amplified Bible
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

Christian Standard Bible
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

American Standard Version
Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad.

Contemporary English Version
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.

English Revised Version
Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person's anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.

Good News Translation
Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.

International Standard Version
A person's anxiety weighs down his heart, but an appropriate word is encouraging.

Majority Standard Bible
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

NET Bible
Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.

New Heart English Bible
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

Webster's Bible Translation
Heaviness in the heart of man depresseth it: but a good word maketh it glad.

World English Bible
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, "" And a good word makes him glad.

Young's Literal Translation
Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad.

Smith's Literal Translation
Fear in the heart of a man will bow it down: and a good word will gladden it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Grief in the heart of a man shall bring him low, but with a good word he shall be made glad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Grief in the heart of a man humbles him. And with a good word he shall be made glad.

New American Bible
Worry weighs down the heart, but a kind word gives it joy.

New Revised Standard Version
Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A fearful word troubles a man's heart; but a good word makes it glad.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A fearful word troubles the heart of a man and a good word gladdens it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Care in the heart of a man boweth it down; But a good word maketh it glad.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A terrible word troubles the heart of a righteous man; but a good message rejoices him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Loving Discipline and Knowledge
24The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. 25Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up. 26A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.…

Cross References
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, / who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Psalm 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. / The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. / Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 94:19
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, / encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” / So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”


Treasury of Scripture

Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.

heaviness

Proverbs 14:10
The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Proverbs 15:13,15,23
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken…

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

but

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 15:23
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

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Anxiety Anxious Boweth Care Cheers Glad Good Heart Heaviness Kind Makes Maketh Sorrow Stoop Weighs Weighted Word
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Proverbs 12
1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge














Anxiety
The Hebrew word for "anxiety" is "דְּאָגָה" (de'agah), which conveys a sense of fear, worry, or distress. In the ancient Near Eastern context, anxiety often stemmed from uncertainties about survival, such as food, safety, and health. The Bible frequently addresses anxiety, recognizing it as a common human experience that can burden the soul. From a conservative Christian perspective, anxiety is seen as a challenge to faith, where believers are encouraged to trust in God's providence and care.

weighs down
The phrase "weighs down" is translated from the Hebrew "יַשְׁחֶנָּה" (yashchenah), which means to depress or bow down. This imagery suggests a heavy burden that presses upon the heart, leading to a sense of being overwhelmed. Historically, the heart was considered the center of thought and emotion in Hebrew culture, and anything that weighed it down was seen as detrimental to one's well-being. The Bible often uses this metaphor to describe the debilitating effects of sin, worry, and fear.

the heart
In Hebrew, "לֵב" (lev) refers to the heart, which in biblical terms encompasses not just emotions but also the mind and will. It is the core of a person's being, where decisions are made and character is formed. The heart is central to one's relationship with God, and its condition reflects one's spiritual health. In Proverbs, the heart is frequently mentioned as the seat of wisdom or folly, and its state is crucial to living a life that honors God.

but a kind word
The phrase "a kind word" comes from the Hebrew "דָּבָר טוֹב" (davar tov), meaning a good or pleasant word. In the biblical context, words hold significant power, capable of building up or tearing down. A kind word is not merely polite speech but is rooted in truth and love, reflecting God's character. Historically, words of encouragement and blessing were vital in maintaining community and personal relationships, and they continue to be essential in the Christian life.

cheers it up
The Hebrew "יְשַׂמְּחֶנָּה" (yesamchenah) means to make glad or to bring joy. This phrase suggests a transformation from heaviness to lightness, from sorrow to joy. In the biblical narrative, joy is often associated with God's presence and favor. The act of cheering up the heart through kind words is seen as a reflection of God's own comforting nature, as He often speaks words of hope and encouragement to His people. From a conservative Christian perspective, believers are called to be conduits of God's love, using their words to uplift and edify others.

(25) Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop.--But, as this is not favourable to the spiritual life, we have warnings against excessive anxiety (Matthew 6:34), and exhortations to cast all our care upon God (1Peter 5:7; Psalm 37:5) as a religious duty, that trusting in Him, and so having from Him the "peace which the world cannot give," our hearts may be "set to obey" His commandments.

Verse 25. - Heaviness - care - in the heart of man maketh it stoop (Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 17:22). Care brings dejection and despair; hence the Christian is bidden to beware of excessive anxiety, and not to perplex himself with solicitude for the future (Matthew 6:84; 1 Peter 5:7). A good word maketh it glad.

Λύπην γὰρ εὔνους οϊδεν ἰᾶσθαι λόγος.

"A word of kindness grief's keen smart can heal." Septuagint, "A word of terror disturbs the heart of a (righteous) man, but a good message will gladden him." The "word of terror" may be an unjust censure, or evil tidings. Says a Servian proverb, "Give me a comrade who will weep with me; one who will laugh I can easily find."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Anxiety
דְּאָגָ֣ה (də·’ā·ḡāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1674: Anxiety, anxious care

weighs down
יַשְׁחֶ֑נָּה (yaš·ḥen·nāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

the heart
בְלֶב־ (ḇə·leḇ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of a man,
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

but a good
ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

word
וְדָבָ֖ר (wə·ḏā·ḇār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

cheers it up.
יְשַׂמְּחֶֽנָּה׃ (yə·śam·mə·ḥen·nāh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 12:24
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